Naseem Shah helped Pakistan win the 3-match ODI series by one wicket.
In the first match of the three-match ODI series being played in Hambantota, Afghanistan’s opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a fantastic inning of 151 runs, aiding his team in setting a goal of 301 runs against Pakistan.
This is the highest total that Afghanistan has ever amassed against Pakistan in an ODI game. Gurbaz was assisted by Ibrahim Zardan, one of his opening partners, who scored 80 runs while the Pakistani bowling line struggled to claim wickets.
Naseem Shah and Usama Mir each grabbed one wicket, while Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets.
Earlier, Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan, chose to bat after winning the toss. The Pakistani team stuck with the same lineup from Tuesday’s 142-run victory over Afghanistan in the first game at Hambantota, Sri Lanka, while Afghanistan made two changes by inserting Shahidullah Kamal and Riaz Hassan.
Rahmat Shah, an all-around player, and fast bowler Azmatullah Omarzai were not included.
On Saturday, the final game will also take place in Colombo.
